Insight on Autism  
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In This Issue
Lunch Bunch Program in School
Start a Social Skills Group
Self Advocacy in College
Teaching Your Child Social Skills
30 FREE Webinar Trainings
New Graduate Certificate program in ASD and ABA
2011-12 Summary of KATC Activities
Peer Mediated Instruction and Intervention
Kentucky Autism Training Center
University of Louisville Autism Center
Kosair Charities Center
1405 E. Burnett Ave.
Louisville, KY 40217
(502)852-4631
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KATC Resources


KATC Family Guide
Learn about resources available in Kentucky for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Download your FREE copy today!
Upcoming Trainings

We are currently in the process of planning a new Fall Webinar series and Regional Workshops.  Look for more information to come in the near future about these training opportunities. 

 

Family Webinar Series

 

8/30/2012 11:30AM 

Techniques to Expand Food variety for Children with ASD 

Presented by Jocelyn Warren  

 

Please visit the KATC website to register for this webinar and any upcoming trainings as they become available. 

KATC Poll

What topic would you be most interested in seeing presented in the upcoming family webinar series?
  • Bullying
  • Family Relationships: How to stay connected
  • Assessment and treatment of feeding in children with Autism
  • How to Start your Own Social Skills Group
  • Overview of Services for individuals with Autism in KY
Please answer the online poll to let us know your answer.
Ask KATC

 

Heidi Cooley-Cook,

KATC Field Trainer

 

Question:

I have heard a lot about evidence-based practices, what are they and how can I learn more?

 

Answer:

Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) are those interventions that have been identified as effective for individuals on the Autism Spectrum.  The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDC)and the National Standards Project (NSP) each reviewed hundreds of research articles and determined what practices met their criteria for an Evidence-Based Practice/Established Treatments.  NPDC identified 24 EBPs while the NSP identified 11 Established Treatments.  On the comparison chart you will notice that there is a lot of overlap between the two lists. 

 

To find out more about each of the EBPs/Established Treatments, you can do so on the respective website.  Another great way to learn more is through the Autism Internet Modules (AIM)You will need to set up an account - I have been pleasantly surprised that I have only received e-mails from AIM when new modules are available!!  

 

Once you have logged into the website, you can access the modules - alphabetical listing or by category (Recognizing Autism, Autism at Home, in the Classroom, Workplace and Community).  The modules vary in length but are usually an hour or two long.  You can view the content (videos, slides, assessments, etc.) in order or navigate the Module Menu and choose the section of the presentation that you want more information about. 

 

I would recommend viewing the entire presentation if you are unfamiliar with the topic so that you have a full picture and understanding of it upon completion of the module!   

 

Do you have a question to ask the KATC Field Trainers?  
Send your question to: [email protected] 
The question and answer could be featured in our next newsletter.

Diandre Glover Thomas

Insight on Autism, Editor

Developing Social Skills
   Summer 2012                                                      Issue# 7
This issue of Insight on Autism focuses on helping individuals with autism spectrum disorder develop social skills. You will find information that ranges from helping elementary to college age students.  In addition, we have exciting news to share with you from the Autism Center regarding 30 FREE archived training webinars available online and U of L's new certificate program in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. 
Teach Social Skills in School Using Lunch Bunch
 
 by Julie Stewart, M.Ed.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders are impacted by a qualitative impairment in social interaction. Although this area of challenge will impact individuals across the lifespan, it is an area that does not receive as much intervention attention as other areas. To embed intervention across the day teachers must be creative and systematically plan for teaching social skills.  Article continued..
Starting a Social Skills Group for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum 
 

by Laura Ferguson, M.Ed., BCBA

 

Individuals on the autism spectrum often find it difficult to form social relationships. Friendships that often form early in life for other individuals do not occur for individuals with autism. Parents, teachers and other professionals need to explicitly teach skills that are critical for social development. Social development skills can be effectively taught through participation in social skills groups. Article continued.. 
Self Advocacy and College Students with ASD

by Diandre Glover Thomas

High school students with autism have parents, teachers, counselors and other administrators who advocate for them in school. However, when these students graduate and attend college they are expected to advocate for themselves. It is essential for a student with autism spectrum disorder attending college to learn about their disability and be capable of communicating their needs to college disability resource centers when planning accommodations.  Article continued..
Teaching Social Skills to Your Child with Autism

by Jennifer Bobo, MSSW, LCSW

Social skills are a very important set of skills that impact social, communicative, cognitive and emotional development. Social skills do not come naturally to individuals with autism and we know that these skills must be taught explicitly if they are going to be mastered. "How do I teach social skills?" you might ask. Below, I will briefly review some interventions to teach social skills and provide links to more information, examples and step-by-step instructions to create and implement these interventions. Article continued..
 AUTISM CENTER NEWS
KATC Family Webinar Series on YouTube 
KATC YouTube

The KATC has been excited to provide many great, free webinar trainings for parents and professionals.  Our hope is that these webinars are available to as many individuals across the state by providing easy access to accurate, evidence based information.  Webinar trainings are available to you 24 hours a day online. You can watch the training videos through our YouTube Channel and access powerpoint slides and handouts at the click of a button in the comfort of your own home.  Check out the 30+ FREE archived webinar trainings on the KATC website.  Also, subscribe to our YouTube channel to be quickly notified when new archived trainings are available for you to watch.

 

If you have any questions feel free to contact Jennifer Bobo, LCSW at (502) 852-7811.

University of Louisville Offers a New Graduate Certificate in ASD and Applied Behavior Analysis

 

University of Louisville's department of special education faculty members are excited to announce this graduate certificate with advanced coursework in ASD and Applied Behavior Analysis.  Additionally, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.� has approved the course sequence as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination�. UofL is the first institution in the state to offer a certificate in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis with a BACB approved course sequence. Students may apply to take prerequisite courses in fall 2012, and then apply to begin the 18-hour BCBA course sequence in spring 2013. Students must also complete 1,500 supervised hours of training before taking the BCBA exam.

 

To learn more about the program, contact Dr. Rob Pennington, 502-852-2633, or Dr. Monica Delano, 502-852-2546.

2011-2012 Summary of KATC Activities

We wanted to share with our readers a brief summary of what the KATC has accomplished this year to support families and professionals. We grouped our activities into the following categories:
  • Utilizing Technology
  • Promoting Early Identification and Access to Early Intervention
  • Supporting Families
  • Building Statewide Capacity for Educators to Improve Outcomes for Learners with ASD
  • Statewide Training for Families and Professionals Article continued....
KATC TOOLBOX
Peer-Mediated Instruction and Intervention

 by Heidi Cooley-Cook  

 

The National Professional Development Center on ASD affirms that PMII has been shown to be an effective practice for a wide age range, 3 to 18 --- utilizing peer-initiation training with young children 3-8 and social networking with older children 9-18. NPDC noted that only 1 study met their criteria for middle/high school age groups, while there was more research supporting PMII for use with early childhood and elementary age children. Article continued.. 
Featured Resource Library Book
 
S.O.S. Social Skills in Our Schools:
 A Social Skills Program for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Including High-Functioning Autism and Asperger Syndrome, and Their Typical Peers

 

237 pages  
Publisher: Autism Asperger Publishing Company (2005)  

Forming healthy, solid relationships with their typical peers is a major challenge for most children with autism spectrum disorders. This comprehensive social skills curriculum has the dual purpose of helping educators develop appropriate social skills in children with pervasive developmental disorders while also fostering understanding and tolerance among typical peers and school staff. The curriculum includes built-in booster lessons, so the child receives multiple presentations of the material, thus reinforcing the lesson for better understanding and generalization.
 
Learn more about how to check out this book or other available titles in the Amanda L. King Resource Library.
 
The mission of the Kentucky Autism Training Center is to strengthen our state's systems of support for persons affected by autism by bridging research to practice and by providing training and resources to families and professionals. KATC is committed to improving the quality of life for those affected by ASD.